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Congestion charges and electric cars among topics to be examined at international transport conferen

Congestion charges and electric cars among topics to be examined at international transport conferen

31 August 2010

The University of Aberdeen will host the 5th International Symposium on Travel Demand Management

Measures to reduce congestion and encourage the public to make more environmentally conscious transport choices are to be explored at a conference in Aberdeen later this year.

Controversy surrounding congestion charges, and the feasibility of consumers choosing electric cars, will be among topics discussed during the 5th International Symposium on Travel Demand Management, hosted by the University of Aberdeen.

Around 80 leading transport experts, consultants and service providers from across the globe will convene for the event which takes place from October 26 – 28.

The latest research and developments which aim to reduce traffic growth and congestion in cities across the globe will be highlighted at the symposium.

Examples to be discussed include the way forward for road pricing in the wake of public rejection of congestion charging schemes in the UK and the Netherlands and advances being made in Australia to support the introduction of electric vehicles.

The need for a shift in attitudes towards public transport and how this can be achieved will also be considered at the event.

Dr Mark Beecroft from the University of Aberdeen’s Centre for Transport Research said: “The need to create more sustainable transport options in order to reduce traffic or prospective traffic growth is well recognised around the world but gaining political and public support for measures designed to achieve these goals can be very difficult.

“The conference will bring together transport experts from across the globe to discuss and debate such issues, including for example why congestion charging continues to be such a controversial topic, despite the fact we accept pricing in other areas of transport provision.

“We will also focus on the social changes which need to take place in order to encourage travellers to make more environmentally conscious transport choices. Looking, for example, at how we can integrate transport more effectively into communities in order to make smarter and more efficient travel choices an accepted part of day to day life.”

The 5th International Symposium on Travel Demand Management takes place at the University of Aberdeen’s King’s College Campus from October 26 – 28.